Poor sleep and emotional distress tied to heavier caregiving burden for those with heart conditions
A study of 792 family and unpaid caregivers with cardiovascular conditions found that sleep problems, psychological distress, and caregiving demands were associated with greater perceived burden and emotional strain. Published in the Journal of Applied Gerontology, the research analyzed data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study and National Study of Caregiving. The authors say health care providers should ask about caregiving responsibilities and how they affect sleep, emotional well-being, and management of cardiovascular conditions.
The research was led by Kyeung Mi Oh at George Mason University’s College of Public Health and appeared in the Journal of Applied Gerontology. It drew on 792 unpaid or family caregivers who had cardiovascular conditions and assisted older adults living in the community, using data from two national studies.
Among these caregivers, hypertension was the most common condition, at 92.3%, while some also reported heart disease or a past heart attack. Most were 65 or older, about 61% were women, and nearly half were spouses or partners. Sleep disruption, fatigue, weaker legs, longer care hours, and negative feelings tracked with heavier burden; trouble returning to sleep, breathing issues, and negative feelings tracked with distress.
This study may encourage clinicians to routinely ask caregivers about their responsibilities, sleep, and emotional health, especially when those caregivers already manage heart conditions. Better recognition could connect them with tailored support, potentially easing strain and helping them maintain their own care. Families and older adults who rely on unpaid care might benefit if caregiver well-being becomes a more visible part of treatment planning. Health systems could also feel effects if such screening reduces crises, though the study alone cannot prove those outcomes.